Ireland's Digital Connectivity Strategy, published by my Department, sets ambitious targets, which include providing a Gigabit network to all households and businesses in Ireland by 2028 and access to 5G in all populated areas by 2030.
The National Broadband Plan (NBP) is the Government's initiative to deliver high speed broadband services to all premises in Ireland.
The Question refers to the Rolestown area which is partially located in the AMBER area on the broadband map, which is available on my Department's website at https://www.gov.ie/en/publication/5634d-national-broadband-plan-map/. The AMBER area is to be served by the network deployed under the NBP State led intervention.
Commercial fixed line operators Open Eir, Virgin Media and SIRO are delivering high-speed broadband services in the blue area/ non-intervention area of the map.
The latest information on when high-speed broadband will become available in the AMBER area can be found on National Broadband Ireland’s (NBI) website at nbi.ie/map/. This website is regularly updated providing the expected timeline for delivery and status of any works that are initiated at any point in time.
It provides potential customers with indicative dates, based on the best information available at any given time. However, given the complexity of building the network alongside specific circumstances that may arise that are out of NBI's control, dates are subject to change. NBI also has a dedicated email address, reps@nbi.ie, which can be used by Oireachtas members for specific queries.
Rolestown is included in the Donabate /Portrane Deployment Area (DA). NBI have advised my Department that they are currently facing challenges in this specific DA, which is affecting the anticipated connection timeframe. Build works were to be completed by third-party infrastructure in September 2023. Under the National Broadband Plan (NBP), NBI is contractually obligated to re-use existing third-party infrastructure, such as poles and ducts.
During the Network Build Stage, the third party is responsible for clearing and replacing poles and clearing ducts to align to the agreed standards. Regrettably challenges have occurred during the completion of these works by the third party, which has significantly impacted NBI’s ability to proceed with the build in this DA.
Given these delays, the current estimated timeframe for connection is between October and December 2025. NBI will publish confirmation of timeframes to their website as they become available.
